Futurist Theatre In Scarborough To Be Revamped

posted by Ross Melnick on September 9, 2002 at 4:18 pm

SCARBOROUGH, NORTH YORKSHIRE, ENGLAND — The historic Futurist Theatre closed yesterday and will remain dark for three months while the theater is upgraded by its new operator. When it reopens, it will remain a mixed movie and live performance venue.

According to the Scarborough Evening News, the theater is being outfitted with Dolby Digital sound and will upgrade its projection capabilities. The new operator, Hollywood Plaza owner Barrie Stead, is also working on booking live shows for summer 2003.

Hope for the long time existence of the Futurist is still very much in doubt, however, as plans to sell the theater are in the works. According to the report, the theater is expected to stay open only for one year after reopening under Stead’s management.

The theater is expected to reopen in the fall with the second installment of the “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, “The Two Towers”. The Italian Renaissance Futurist Theatre opened in 1927 and seats over 2,000 patrons.